Refrigerating apparatus



D. G. HARTER REFRIGERATING APPARATUS April 21, 1959 Filed Nov. l5, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wam Aprill'Zl, 1959 n. G. Hmm-ER l 2,883,100

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15, 195e :s sheets-'sheet 2 INVENToR. '717 v Jaa/un 4. #7ans/e 4AprilA 21,1959 n. G. HARTi-:R

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15, 195s 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 NN e l n l V//fl f mm a* me Na ...H .I @AW d v MY v i u. 7W?

Wrap/yew United States Patent() REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Donald G. Harter, Bloomfield Township, Oakland County,

Mich., assigner to American Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Maryland Application November 15, 1956, Serial No. 622,425 3 Claims. (Cl. 230187) This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to compressors for use in such apparatus.

In refrigcrating equipment such as air conditioning equipment adapted for motor vehicles it is desirable that the equipment be compact in arrangement so as to lit the limited space available in a motor vehicle and still be highly eicient, particularly is this required in a refrigerant compressor and it is an object of the present invention to provide a reciprocating type compressor arranged in a new and improved manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant compressor of the reciprocating type having its crankshaft journaled within a crankcase and positioned in an improved manner therein for reciprocably driving the pistons in the cylinders.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement of a single unitary head for a refrigerant compressor having multiple cylinders in a V arrangement.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

Fig. l is a front view of a compressor embodying features of my invention and illustrated mounted to an internal combustion engine with a refrigerating system `diagrarnmatically shown therewith.

Fig. 2 is a view in cross section taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal view in cross section of the compressor embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a view in cross isection taken along the line `5---5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in cross section taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a View in cross section taken along the line 7--7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in cross section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; i .p

Fig. 9 is a view` in cross `section taken along the line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. l() is a fragmentary view incross section taken `along the line 10-10 of Fig. 6;

j Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in cross section taken `along the line 11--11 of Fig. 4; and

i22isde1ivered by conduit32 to the condenser 24 where- Yin it is cooled and liquied and from which it is delivered to the receiver 28. From the receiver 28 the refrigerant is delivered under the control of the thermostatically controlled regulating valve 30 to the evaporator coil 26. The vaporized or heat laden refrigerant is withdrawn from the evaporator coil through a. return conduit 36. The conduit 36 is connected by fitting 38 and the conduit 32 is connected by fitting 40 to the compressor. The valve 30 is thermostatically responsive to the temperature of the evaporator coil 26 to regulate the ow of refrigerant thereinto and is adjustable to maintain the operation of the evaporator coils 26 at a pressure temperature range to prevent the formation of frost thereon.

The compressor 22 is carried and driven by the operation of an internal combustion engine 42 of a motor vehicle (not shown). The compressor 22 is driven by a belt and pulley arrangement comprising pulleys 44, 46, 48 and 50 operatively connected by belts 52 and 54. The pulley 44 is secured on a crankshaft 56 of the engine 42 and driven therewith for driving pulley 46 by the belt 52. The driven pulley 46 is secured on a shaft S8 of a fluid pump 60 for operating the fluid pump. Secured to the pulley 46 for rotation therewith is the pulley 48 which operatively drives the pulley 50 through the belt 54. The pulley 50 is secured on a crankshaft 62 of the compressor for operatively driving the same.

The compressor 22 is mounted on a platform 64 that is pivotally secured by axially aligned pins 66to a U- shaped bracket 68 which is secured to the side of the internal combustion engine 42. The pivotal movement of the platform permits varying the distance between the pulleys 48 and 50 for adjustment and the tightening of the belt 54. After a belt adjustment, the platform 64 is secured in a xed stationary position by a bracket arm 69 which is xedly secured to the platform and extends therefrom to the engine 22 to which it is secured by a bolt 70. The fluid pump 60 and the pulleys 46, 48 are supported and held in xed position by bracket arms 71 and 72, the bracket arm 72 is secured to the engine 22 and the arm 71 is secured to the bracket 68. The bracket arms 71 and 72 are arranged to permit varying the distance of pulley 46 relative to the pulley 56 to permit tightening of the belt 52 by adjusting the position of the fluid pump 60.

The compressor 22 comprises a casting or outer casing 74 having formed therein a crankcase 76, cylinders 78, 80, and inlet or suction muling chamber 82, an outlet or discharge muffling chamber 84, a cylinder head 86 and a valve plate 88. The cylinder head 86 and valve plate 88 are extended to serve both cylinders 78 and 80.

The cylinders 78, are formed in a V arrangement with the crankcase section 76 so that the angular relation of the V forms by their extended imaginary median lines of the cylinders an included angle of less: than a right angle, and preferably an included angle of approximately 30 degrees. The cylinders are spaced in consecutive alignment along the axis of the crankshaft which is formed with crank arms 90, 92 to which are connected connecting rods or pitmans 94, 96 that are joined to pistons 98, 100 which are disposed in the respective cylinders 78, 80 for reciprocation therein.

The crankshaft 62 is journaled in bearings 102 and 104, the bearing 102 is `secured in end wall 106 and the bearing `104 is secured in the opposite end section 108 of the'casing 76. The end wall section 106 may be formed removable from the casing. The crankshaft extends through an opening 109 found in the end wall section 108 for securement thereon of the pulley S0. The pulley 50 is shown arranged with a magnetic clutch 110 which is provided with controls which are manually operable to permit the pulley 50 to be operatively vengaged or disengaged in driving the crankshaft 62 through 3 the clutch 11i) in accordance to need for refrigeration. The magnetic clutch '110 is well known in the art and a further description is not believed necessary. The

lpulley 50` may, if desired, be directly secured on the crankshaft for continuous `operation with the engine without the magnetic clutch. The opening 109 is sealed about the crankshaft 62 by a suitable seal 112 to prevent atmospherical air leakage into the crankcase 78 as well as prevent lubricant oil maintained in the crankcase from leaking out therethrough.

The crankshaft 62 is provided with interconnected drilled passageways 114 for conducting lubricant o il to the bearings and to the seal 112 under pressure from a pump 116 which circulates the oil from the crankcase 76 through passage 118 to the passageways 114. The pump 116 comprises a cylinder 120 formed in the end vwall section 106 within which is disposed a rotary piston 122 formed integrally on the shaft extension 124 of the crankshaft 62. The inlet port to the cylinder 120 is the passage 11S in communication with the crankcase 76, and the outlet port is a groove 123 in axial alignment with the shaft extension 124 formed in the end wall section and extending to communicate with a chamber 126 that is in open communication with the drilled passageway 114. Extending into the cylinder 12u between the inlet and outlet ports thereof is a blade or vane 12S which is held in frictional contact against the rotary piston 122 by a spring 129. During the operation of the compressor lubricant oil will oe forced under pressure by the pump 116 to be distributed by the passageways to the various bearings and also upwardly through drilled passageways 130 provided in the connecting rods to the wrist pin connections from which it may ow through a central bore 132 to the cylinder walls.

The crankshaft 62 is journaled within the crankcase Vso that its axis of rotation 137 lies above the intersection point 136 formed by the cylinders imaginary median or centerlines 133. 'T he crankshaft 62 is in close proximity adjacent the lower ends of the cylinders to permit the use of shorter length connecting rods without altering or decreasing the length of the pistons stroke. That is, the full volumetric capacity of the compressor is retained. The placing of the crankshaft closer to the bottom of the cylinders also shortens the height of the crankcase as well as the height of the compressor to provide for compactness of the compres-sor.

To further increase the compressors compactness the casting or casing "i4 is formed with a at planular top surface 140 that angularly truncates the cylinders 7S, 80 at an oblique angle tothe cylinder Walls to pe-rmit the flat planular valve plate 83 to extend over and across each cylinder as a closure for forming compression chambers 144, 146. The valve plate 88 also serves as a closure for the suction and discharge muiing chambers. The valve plate is clampingly secured between the flat surface 140 of the casing 74 and the cylinder 86. The cylinder head 86 is secured by screws 147 to the casing. The top wall or head 14S of each piston is formed complementary to the top wall of the compression chamber, that is, the head 148 of each piston 98, 100 extends in parallel alignment to the underside of the valve plate 88, which isthe top wall of the compression chamber.

The itting 38 is secured to the casing 74 to communicate with the suction mufiiing chamber for conducting thereinto vaporized refrigerant delivered through conduit 36. Refrigerant is conducted from the suction mufing chamber through opening .150 .formed in the valve plate 8S into a chamber 152 formed in the cylinder head y856 from which it is distributed to each cylinder flowing through inlet ports 154 into the cylinder 78 and through inlet ports 156 into the cylinder 3i). The llow through each of the inlet ports 154, 156 is controlled by respective reed valves 158 which are carried on the valve plate on the .compression chamber side thereof. The compressed refrigerant .is passed outwardly from the compression chambers to chamber 160 formed in the cylinder head through ports 162, 164. The compressed refrigerant from cylinder 78 passes through outlet ports 162 under control of discharge reed valves 166 positioned thereover, and the discharge from the cylinder Si) passes through outlet ports 164 under control of discharge reed valves 168 positioned thereover. T he compressed refrigerant from the chamber 1,60 is conducted through an opening 170 formed in the valve plate 88 into the discharge mailling chamber 84 from which it is delivered through the tting 40 and the conduit 32 to the condenser 24.

During the operation .of the compressor some lubricant oil is withdrawn or passes from the crankcase past the pistons to be discharged into the refrigerating system where it will circulate to eventually return with the refrigerant to be separated therefrom in the suction mufiling chamber 82. To permit the return of the lubricant tothe crankcase a threaded passage is provided in a parti,- tional wall 182 between the chamber 82 and the crankcase 76 into which is thread-ably secured an oil return valve 190. The valve comprises a body 192 having a centrally extended passage 194 providing communication between the chamber 82 and the crankcase 76. The

passage 194 is adapted to be closed at its outlet into the crankease 76 by avalve disk 196 `which is limited in its movement from its seat over passage 194 by a ring 198 carried by the valve body 192.

During normal Operation when the pressure within the crankcase lis equal or less than the pressure within the suction chamber 82 the passage 194 is open, the valve disk 196 resting on the ring 198, to allow lubricant oil to drain through the passage into the crankcase. When the pressure within the crankcase lis greater than that within the chamber '82, the valve 190 will automatically close as the greater pressure 'in the crankcase will lift and hold the valve disk 196 over the outlet of the passage 194. This `arrangement prevents any sudden reduction of pressure on the lubricant within the crankcase and consequently eliminates any tendency of forming of the lubricant or its sudden withdrawal from the crankcase. To permit equalization of pressures a restricted opening `20,0 is drilled through the disk that is in communication with the passage 194 to permit restricted or metered withdrawal of refrigerant vapors from the crankcase for a gradual reduction of the pressure therein.

By the present arrangement of parts the compressor has been materially reduced in height to provide a compact compressor. A more economical and eflicient V type compressor is provided having a high volumetric capacity and eiciency by the arrangement of the crankshaft for reciprocating the pistons, and the arrangement of the cylinder head and pistons providing a minimum of head clearance at the top of the compressionstroke.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will `be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the Yinvention o r from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A uid compressor for rerigerating apparatus comprising a casting having a crankcase and cylinders formed therein with said cylinders in a V arrangement, said casting having a at planular top wall surface through which said cylinders extend obliquely, la single flat planular cylinder 'head secured to said planular top surface to close said-cylinders, a valve plate secured between said planular top surface and said cylinder'head, a suction chamber and a discharge chamber formed lin said cylinder head, `inlet and outlet ports provided yin said valve plate to each of said cylinders in communication with said suction and discharge chambers, valves `controlling vsaid, ports, pistons reciprocable in said .cyl-

interconnecting said pistons for reciprocation by said crankshaft, each of said pistons having its head portion extending obliquely to its skirt portion, and said pistons being reciprocable in its respective cylinder whereby its head portion moves planularly to said valve plate providing compression chambers having top and bottom walls extending in parallel relation and obliquely to the side walls.

2. A fluid compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising a casting having a crankcase and cylinders formed therein with said cylinders in a V arrangement, said casting having a flat planular top Wall surface through which said cylinders extend obliquely therethrough, a single at planular cylinder head secured to said planular top surface to close said cylinders, a valve plate secured between said planular top surface and said cylinder head, a suction chamber and a discharge chamber formed in said cylinder head, inlet and outlet ports provided in said valve plate to each of said cylinders in communication with said suction and discharge chambers, valves controlling said ports, pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a crankshaft rotatably mounted in said crankcase, means interconnecting said pistons for reciprocation by said crankshaft, each of said pistons having its head portion extending obliquely to its skirt portion, and said pistons reciprocable in its respective cylinder whereby its head portion remains parallel in its reciprocable movement to said planular top surface, and said crankshaft being rotatably mounted in said crankcase so that its axis of rotation is spaced above to extend horizontally above the intersecting point of the extended median lines of said cylinders and equidistant between said cylinders in close proximity thereto.

3. A iluid compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising a casting having a crankcase and cylinders formed therein with said cylinders in a V arrangement, said casting having a at planular top wall surface through which said cylinders extend obliquely, a single flat planular cylinder head secured to said planular top surface to close said cylinders, a valve plate secured between said planular top surface and said cylinder head, a suction chamber and a discharge chamber formed in said cylinder head, a suction mufing chamber and a discharge mufing chamber formed in said casting having openings through said top wall surface and closed by said valve plate and cylinder head, a passage through said valve plate interconnecting in communication said suction mutllirig chamber and said suction chamber, a second passage through said valve plate interconnecting in communication said discharge muling chamber with said discharge chamber, inlet and outlet ports provided in said valve plate to each of said cylinders in communication with said suction and discharge chambers, valves controlling said ports, pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a crankshaft rotatably mounted in said crankcase, means interconnecting said pistons for reciprocation by said crankshaft, each of said pistons having its head portion extending obliquely to its skirt portion, and said pistons reciprocable in its respective cylinder whereby its head portion moves parallel to said planular top surface, and said crankshaft being rotatably mounted in said crankcase so that its axis of rotation is spaced above to extend horizontally above the intersecting point of the extended median lines of said cylinders and midway between said cylinders in close proximity thereto.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,012,725 Shadall Dec. 26, 1911 1,024,919 Waterous Apr. 30, 1912 I1,722,950 Barkeij July 30, 1929 1,983,550 Lee Dec. l1, 1934 2,036,799 Duryee Apr. 7, 1936 2,421,293 Shawhan May 27, 1947 

